Washing machine, adapted particularly for use in so-called dry cleaning



H. W. DILLON Oct. 17, 1939.

WASHING MACHINE, ADAPTED PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN SO-CALLED DRY CLEANING Filed May 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 man Inwfen, or. Wig/kn I I owner Oct. 17, 1939. w, DlLLON 2,176,298

WASHING MACHINE, ADAPTED PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN SO-CALLED DRY CLEANING Filed May 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. W. DILLON Oct. 17, 1939.

WASHING MACHINE, ADAPTED PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN SO-CALLED DRY CLEANING Filed May 23, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A urn?!- Patented Oct. l7, 1939 UNITED ATES WASHING moms, ADAPTED' PARTICU- LARLY FOR USE IN SO-CALLED DRY Herman W. DillomChicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Thomas A. Doyle, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 23,

2 Claims.

The objects of my invention are principally the following: (a) to provide a comparatively inexpensive machine in which both washing and initial drying can be done in a tub completely 5 closed, without opening the tub and without handling either the fluid or the clothes or other materials placed within the tub; (b) to minimize and counteract vibration and its effects; to provide reliable and easily operated looking means for the revolving basket of the machine; (d) to provide tight fitting, yet easily operated means for.closing the main opening of the washing tub; and (e) to provide superior mounting and driving means for the revolving basket of the machine.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my machine, with parts of the tub broken away; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my machine with the tub in vertical, loading and drying po- 90 sition, viewed from the left side of the machine,

as shown in Fig. 1, likewise with parts of the tub broken away; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of my machine from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partly sectional front eleu vation of my machine; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of my machine in the plane indicated by line 5-5 in Fig. 4, with alternate positions of the tub indicated in dotted outline; Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partly sectional top plan view of certain 80 parts of my machine;yFig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of certain other parts of my machine; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of still other parts of my machine; Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of parts vof my machine, showing the position of certain parts when the tub and the rotary basket therein are in open position for the introduction or removal of clothes; and Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of certain parts of my machine.

Referring to the drawings, on inverted channel steel bars l8 and rubber cushions 28 there are mounted, by means-of bolts 2| and nuts 22, legs 23, made of inverted channel bars, reinforced, in the lower two-thirds of their length, by supplementary channel bars 24, and carrying, on pillowblocks 25, bearings 26 in which are mounted tubular members 21 which are threaded into washtub 28-and are rigidly connected thereto by means of shakeproof washers 29 and locknuts 30, or other suitable means.

Tub 28 is made of suitable sheet metal, such as Monel metal, and is substantially doublewalled throughout- Between the sheets forming the end-walls 32 there are interposed, penetrated by tubular axle stubs 21, reinforcing metal plates 55 :3, extending horizontally, when the tub is in 1935, Serial No. 22,975 (oi. 68140)' vertical position, from the front wall to the rear wall of the tub, the inner end-sheets of tub 28 being formed with suitable depressions to accommodate plates 33. The outer front and rear walls and the bottom of tub 28 are preferably formed of a single sheet of metal with a rounded bottom portion 38, parallel middle portions 38 and upwardly flaring upper portions 40. The inner front wall 4| tightly adjoins portion 40 of the outer front wall of tub 28 down to the horizontal 1 level, approximately, of stubs 21, and thereupon continues, concentrically with stubs 21, to its free end 42, slightly to the front of the middle of bottom portion 38. The inner rear wall 43 similarly adjoins portion 48 of the outer rear wall 15 of tub 28, then continues downward, in the same manner as wall 4|, until within an inch or two of end 42 of wall 4|, and thereupon slants with its portion 44 toward bottom 38, ending-in an upturned flange 45 within an inch or two of bottom a; 38, opposite to a baille 46 which projects from bottom 38, substantially parallel to portion 44 and flange 45. Both walls 4| and 43, and also baflie 46, are throughout their entire length from top to bottom firmly soldered or welded to end walls 32 of tub 28, thus forming within tub 28 three chambers, being chamber 41 above walls 4| and 43, chamber 48 below wall 43, and chamber 48 below wall 4| and above portion 44 and baflle 48. Chamber 48 communicates with chamber 41 through slot 50, extending between end 42 and wall 43, and with chamber 48 through passage 5|, formed between the lower end of wall 43 and baille 46,both slot 58 and passage 5| extending the entire distance between end walls 32. At its top tub 28 is permanently closed for a 1 short distance from its rear wall 43, by fixed cover portion 52, firmly soldered or welded to wall 43 and to end walls 32, and having its front end bent upon itself so as to form a tongue and groove edge 53, adapted to be engaged by a corresponding groove and tongue edge 54, formed in the rear end of movable cover portion by a double bending, upon itself, of such rear end. Portion 55 has attached to it a lifting handle 58, is formed 4' with downward projecting flanges 51, and is dimensioned so that when edge 53 is tightly en gaged by edge 54, a pushing down of portion 55 will result into a tight engagement of end walls 32 and inner front wall by flanges 51. In a order to hold cover portion 55 in convenient position when edge 54 is disengaged from edge 53 and cover portion 55 is tipped upward and backward, it is provided on its lower side, adjacent end walls 32 and a short distance forward of u groove 54, with brackets 58 which carry, oscillatably joined thereto, links 59, provided with slots 68 which are in engagement with pins 6|, entered in end walls 32.

In tubular members 21 there are oscillatably mounted axle stubs 64 and 65 which are threaded through the centers of disks or spiders 66 and through the vertical ends 61 of cylindrical washing basket 68 to which spiders 66 are firmly secured by bolts 69 and nuts I8, -or by welding. Axle stubs 64 and 65 are rigidly held in position in members 66 and 61 by shakeproof washers II and locknuts I2. Ends 61 are rigidly connected with each other by a perforated cylindrical metallic member I3 which is soldered or welded to ends 61 along most of their circumferences, the cylinder being completed by a gate 14, likewise made of perforated sheet metal, which is oscillatably connected to member I3 by a rod I5 after the method commonly used in piano hinges. The free end I6 of gate "and the corresponding end I] of member I3 are each curled upward and backward, forming curls I8 and I9. On curl I9 there are mounted two locking members 88 which engage curl I9 with curled projections BI and carry similar curled projections 82 which are adapted to engage curl 18; After projections 8| are slid into engagement with curl I9, the outer ends of curl I9 are pinched together sufficiently to prevent disengagement of projections 8| therefrom, but not sufiiciently to prevent free sidewise movement of members 88 on the intermediary portion of curl I9. The outer ends of curl I8 arecut away in order to make it practicable to slide projections 82 endwise into engagement with curl I8 when gate I4 is closed, thereby locking gate 14. Unlocking is similarly effected by sliding members 88 sidewise towards the ends ..,of curl I9 as far as they will go. I have found a lock of this construction to combine reliability and ease of operation in a higher degree than any other look I have tried out on a horizontal cylinder that has to revolve at high speed. On its inside, basket 68 is provided with one or more ribs or baflies 83, firmly attached to the walls and ends of basket 68 so as to minimize sliding of the clothes placed into the basket upon rota- I tion of the basket. The baflie or baflles arepref- I erably so placed as to counterbalance the extra weight addedon one side to the basket'by the hinges andthe locks of gate I4. 1

' Both pairs of legs 23' of my machine are additionally braced, directly above bars I9, by bars 98, the downturned ends of which are preferably welded to legs 23. Each pair of legs 23 likewise is connected to the other pair by crossbraces 9| which preferably run from the points at which the upper ends of bars 24' are attached' o legs 23, topoints, on legs 23, about one seventh of the length of legs 23 above their lowerends. Bars 98 are connected with each other by parallel angle bars 92 which carry an electric motor 93, provided with suitable electrical controls and connected with an appropriate power supply (not shown).,

'To one pair of legs 23 and the bar 98, connecting them, there are attached, preferably by bolts and nuts, three horizontal posts 94 that project I from, and carry, a spider frame 95. This spider frame carries, rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 96 and 91, and secured against endwise movement by any suitable means, vertical shaft 98 and vertical screw 99, the latter provided at its upper end with a crank I88, or in lieu thereof, a. handwheel. Shaft 98 carries, slidably mounted thereon, but prevented from turning thereon by part of which is formed with a circular recess I82, while its lower part is provided with vertical flutes and has firmly mounted thereon a horizontal fibre disk I83.

a ypke I85 that engages recess I82. At its lower end shaft 98 carries a worm gear I86, engaged by a worm on the outer end of shaft I81 of motor 93. The outer end of axle stub 66 has firmly mounted thereon, opposite shaft 98, a vertical friction disk I88 which is constantly being pushed against fibre disk I83 by a compression spring I89 of suitable strength which is mounted on hub II8 of disk I88 and bears with its other end against adjoining pillow block 25, a thrust bearing III being preferably interposed toreduce friction. In order that spring I89 may be effective under all conditions in pushing disk I88 into firm engagement with disk I83, basket 68 is made of such length as to afford to axle stubs 64 a reasonable amount of endwise play within members 21.

To prevent tub 28 from tipping too far to the rear, stop H2 is soldered or welded to the outside of tub 28 at an appropriate place, for engagement with one of leg braces 24 when the tub is in washing position, as hereinafter shown. For the purpose of emptying the fluid contents of tub 28, a valve cock H3 is provided on the front of tub 28, adapted for attachment of a hose. This cock is so placed as to communicate with the upper end of chamber 49. For the purpose of providing an outlet for fumes prior to the opening of the cover of my tub, another hose connector H4 is placed in the end of tub 28 opposite to the end at which its driving mechanism is located, near the top of tub 28; This connector enters tub 28 by means of a swivel joint, and the'hose connected to it leads to an exhaust fan (not shown), adapted to draw fumes from tub 28. For the purpose of permitting air to escape from chamber 48 when fluid enters that chamber through passage -5I, several small vents II5 are drilled into wall 43 opposite to end 42.

The method of operating my machine is as follows:

Preliminary to charging my machine valve cock I I3 is closed. Cover portion 55 is then lifted at its forward end by means of handle 56 and at the same time pulled forward so as to disengage edge 54 from edge 53, and is thereupon tilted backward until the lower ends of slots 68' engage Cover portion 55 then will be'in the position shown in Fig. 9.

Basket 68 is thereupon rotated, if necessary, until gate I4 is on top. Members 88 are then pushed toward ends 61 as far as they will go, thereby unlocking gate I4. Gate I4 is then tipped upward and backward by means of curl I8, until it rests against cover portion 55. The clothes to be washed are thereupon placed into basket 68, gate I4 is closed by lowering it, and is' locked by pushing members 88 towards each other and incidentally pushing projections 82 into firm en- Screw 99 carries, threaded onto it, a metal block I84 from which projects gagement with curl I8. Washing fluid, such as soap water or carbon tetrachloride, is then poured into the machine in such volume, approximately,

as would be sufiicient to fill chamber 49 completely if all of the fluid were confinedtherein. Cover portion 55 is then tilted forward, and its forward portion lowered, until edge 54 is directly opposite to edge 53. It is then shoved backward-until edge 54 is in tight engagement with edge 53, and

is thereupon pushed downward until flanges II are in tight engagement with end walls 32 and inner front wall 4|.

Tub 28 is then first tipped forward until all fluid that has entered chamber 48 has run out of it through passage BI, and is thereupon quickly tipped backward until stop II2 engages the leg brace 24 located belowit. By this movement practically all of the fluid in tub 28 is thrown' on the top of wall 43 and into chamber 41, filling that chamber sufilciently to reach well into basket 68. Screw 99 then is turned, by means of crank I00, until disk I03 is moved, by means of yoke I05, so as to engage disk I08 near its outer circumference. Motor 93 is then started, resulta ing into a slow turning of basket 68, and into washing of the clothes within it by a continued tumbling of theminto the fluid at the bottom of the basket. The speed of the rotation of basket 68 can be accelerated or diminished by moving, through the operation of crank I00, disk I03 closer to, or farther away from, the center of disk I 08,-disk I08 continually being pressed into tight engagement with disk I08 by spring I09.

As soon as the washing is completed, motor 93 is'stopped and tub 28 is tipped back into vertical position. This will cause all of the fluid in tub 28, except that adhering to the clothes in basket 60, to flow into chamber 49 and from there, in part, into chamber 48, until chamber 41 is empty and the level of the fluid is well below slot 00.

Motor 02 is then started again, and disk I0! is gradually moved closer to the center of disk I08 until basket 68 revolves at high speed, thereby throwing, through centrifugal force, practically all of the fluid adhering to the clothes in basket 60, out of the basket, and causing it to run; through slot 50, into chambers and 40. When this elimination or drying process has been carrled out to sufllcient extent, the speed of revolution of basket 00 is reduced and motor 00 is again stopped. Tub 20 and basket 68 are then opened, the clothes therein are removed, almost dry, a new batch of clothes is put into basket 00, and the same process is repeated as was gone through with on the flrst batch.

. When a volatile washing fluid is used, the exhaust fan operating through connector Ill is operated while tub 20 is open. Likewise, there always being some loss of fluid through evapora-.

tion, from time to time additional washing fluid is put into tub 20 until the fluid therein has to be removed or needs filtering or other processing to clean it and to restore its efliciency as a washing agent. When that becomes necessary, cock III is opened, and tub 20 is tipped forward until all the fluid in it has run out through chamber 40 and cook II3 into the sewer or into a suitable vessel.

I desire to emphasize particularly that by the peculiar construction of my machine, including particularly the construction of the frame, its bracings and its mounting, I have succeeded in producing a machine that will stand up for a long time notwithstanding'the violent vibration that will be produced by a rapid revolution of a horizontal basket that carries an unbalanced load.

It'is manifest that the construction of my machine can be altered in numerous details without departure from the essentials of my invention. Thus, for instance, members 21 might be shortened, so as not to enter bearings 26, and axle stubs 64 and 65 might be 'directly entered in bearings 26, leaving tub 28 to ride on axle stubs GI and 65 by means of members 21. All such alterations I intend to cover by my claims.

I claim- 1. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub oscillatably mounted on substantially horizontal tubular axle stubs; a wash basket within the tub, mounted on axle stubs oscillatably entered in the tubular axle stubs; hearings in which the tubular axle stubs are mounted; means supporting the bearings; means for rotating the basket; and partitions within the tub arranged to form a false bottom substantially concentric with the basket and having a slot parallel to the axis of the basket; and baflles extended from the slot downward and from the real tub bottom upward; substantially as, and for the purpose, described. I i

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub oscillatably mounted on substantially horizontal tubular axle stubs; a wash basket within the tub, mounted on axle stubs oscillatably entered in the tubular axle stubs; bearings in which the tubular axle stubs are mounted; means sup porting the bearings; means for rotating the basket; and partitions within the tub arranged to form a false bottom having a slot parallel to the axis of the basket; and baiiles extended from the slot downward and from the real tub bottom upward; substantially as, and for the purpose, '0 

